What Is a Roborovski Dwarf Hamster?

A Roborovski dwarf hamster is a member of a Russian dwarf hamster family that consists of three species. The sandy brown, white or grey rodent comes from regions in Northern China and Mongolia. Lieutenant Roborovski discovered the creature in Nan Shan, China. Unlike other hamsters, this breed doesn't have a white stripe down its back.

  1. As a Pet

    • A Roborovski dwarf hamster is an ideal pet for adults and older children. Younger kids might harm the small animal by not being gentle enough. This fast creature can jump over 1 foot vertically and can be very fun to watch for the pet owner for years. The average lifespan of the hamster is three to three and a half years. The rodent enjoys ramps and tube shelves to play with at all hours of the day and night.

    Hamster Care

    • Though it is small, the hamster needs its space and company. The rodent will be happiest if it lives in a large cage with another hamster, preferably of the same sex. Avoid handling the animal while standing up because it could leap and injure itself. The hamster requires more gentle handling than an average hamster because it is only approximately 3.5 to 4 inches long and can be crushed quite easily.

    Where to Find

    • The hamster isn't as easy to find in pet stores as the Cambell's dwarf hamster. Roborovskis are more common, however, in pet stores throughout Europe. In fact, the pet wasn't introduced to the United States until 1998. Due to its fun-loving attitude, the hamster is gradually becoming more popular and available. The animal breeds from April to September, producing between one to nine pups, though the average production is three to six.

    Food

    • The hamster eats various high-quality rodent mixes with many seeds and grains. Food that has a limited amount of sunflowers is the most healthy for the rodent because sunflowers can make the animal fat. Rodent blocks can be given to the hamster as a complete diet but the animal could get bored with the same food all the time. Hamsters have an instinct to collect various types of food and hoard them until it's hungry.